Book Review: The Janus Witch by Michael Scott Clifton

The Janus Witch by Michael Scott Clifton is the featured book on the Lone Star Book Blog Tour this week and I’m bringing you my review of this fantasy romance (thriller)? It kind of defies classification, as there is tension and drama, romance and self-discovery.

Check it out, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end!

About THE JANUS WITCH by MICHAEL SCOTT CLIFTON

• Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Romance
• Publisher: Book Liftoff
• Publication Date: September 1, 2018
• Number of Pages: 372 pages

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Malice vs Love

A beautiful witch, a member of a murderous coven, is torn from her medieval world and transported to East Texas. The passage leaves her with no memory of her previous life. She falls in love with a young pediatrician, but her dark past threatens to reassert itself…and make her a threat.

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PRAISE FOR THE JANUS WITCH:

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, excitement, and fantasy. Michael Scott Clifton is a truly gifted author.  — Teresa Syms, Readers’ Favorite

This novel was an absolute page turner with action and great character development. I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m excited for the next work by Mike Clifton. — Bronwyn Pegues, Librarian, Longview Public Library

“Michael Scott Clifton weaves and casts a magical spell in his fantasy romance The Janus Witch. A must read for any Fantasy Romance, Urban Romance, or Paranormal Romance enthusiast!” — Ranay James, Author of The McKinnon Legends: A Time Travel Series

A continuous flow of witchery and energy that kept this reader captivated until the end. — The Electric Review, 5-Star Review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR, MICHAEL SCOTT CLIFTON

Michael Scott Clifton, public educator for over 38 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie, and family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys…adventure, magic, fantasy, romance, and relationships. He has been a finalist in a number of short story contests. Clifton’s fantasy novel, The Conquest of the Veil, won a First Chapter Finalist award. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Janus Witch, the July Book Cover of the Month, is a featured book on the We Love Indie Books website. Currently, Clifton is completing Book I of The Conquest of the Veil, which will be released in March 2019. He can be reached at mike@michaelscottclifton.com.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:

║ Website ║ Facebook ║ Twitter ║ Instagram ║Goodreads ║ Amazon Author Page ║

REVIEW

If I had to choose one adjective to describe nearly all of the characters in the first 40 or so pages of this fantasy/romance novel, that word would be “loathsome”. From the darkly evil trio of witches to the ruthless witch hunter Lockstone or the pompous son of the Duke, Emmitt, there was hardly a character with a redeeming quality – and it set up a deliciously dark medieval world.

And when Morganna, leader of the coven, opens a portal for escape and ends up in East Texas, she finds that while her powers give her an edge in the strange new world she’s landed in, loathsome characters exist here, too, and she meets her match.  The juxtaposition of this medieval woman in modern-day creates a wickedly dark and twisted plot with plenty of opportunities for her to wreak havoc. In fact, the downright greediness and nastiness of Crick mirrors nicely the thought that no matter what the time or place, some things don’t really change all that much.

The darkness of Morganna’s storyline is balanced by the lightness of Tressalayne’s story, as when she “landed” (quite literally) in present day East Texas, her injuries resulted in amnesia, so she is not aware of her darker nature; the earnest, open nature of pediatrician Lucas Beckett fosters more of the good in her, particularly as she begins to re-discover her magic – and her potential for anger and her darker side to emerge. The question is asked:  can someone change their nature?

I will confess that when The Janus Witch began, it was difficult to ascertain who the protagonist was, as they all felt evil, and I wasn’t sure I would be able to stick with a tale where all the characters were so deeply unlikable. However, author Clifton’s plot picks up speed and tension as it moves to present day, and as characters were introduced which provided balance and contrast.

This is no wistful Nora Roberts fantasy romance of good witches gathering to fight evil. These are dark and twisted witches, and the story of one woman’s fight to overcome her nature and past while another wages battle against an equally nasty adversary.

GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

THREE WINNERS!
One Winner: One Signed Copy + $10 Amazon Gift Card + Bookmark
Two Winners: eBook Copies

DECEMBER 4-13, 2018
(U.S. Only)

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